Jo Ji-hoon, the mayor of Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, pledged to establish a communication-based administration grounded in citizen sovereignty to overcome crises and fulfill his responsibilities during his term in office.
On July 30, Mayor Jo held a press conference marking his 30th day in office, where he announced the achievements of his administration and the future direction of governance under the slogan, 'A City Where We Become Special, Jeonju!'
Mayor Jo highlighted various areas of progress, including the establishment of a citizen-centered communication administration, financial normalization, and the expansion of future new industry foundations, showcasing a brief but impactful period of change and innovation.
He reflected, "The past month has been a time to lay the groundwork for a communication administration that honors the citizens' will to change Jeonju."
Instead of a traditional inauguration ceremony, Mayor Jo began his duties with a policy briefing, implementing measures such as removing the speed gate barrier on the first floor and creating a 'citizen communication space' next to the mayor's office, aiming to foster an open administration accessible to all citizens.
This initiative reflects Mayor Jo's strong commitment to lowering administrative barriers and prioritizing citizen voices in governance.
Additionally, since taking office, he has visited disaster-prone areas, including the Jingi-dul drainage pump station and the Wolpyeong disaster risk improvement district, to assess disaster prevention systems and emphasize a shift to a field-centered administration that addresses safety threats promptly.
In the past month, he has also accelerated efforts to secure future growth engines for revitalizing the local economy.
Specifically, Mayor Jo began visiting AI and ICT companies and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and North Jeolla Province to establish a 'Jeonbuk Jeonju Defense Industry Innovation Cluster,' laying the groundwork for entering the defense industry centered around the Jeonju carbon industrial complex.
Mayor Jo identified 'financial recovery and normalization' as the top priority for his administration.
He explained plans to quickly form a 'Financial Innovation Special Committee,' the first project he approved, and to collaborate with the city council to address the financial crisis.
To this end, he is currently limiting the issuance of new local bonds and rigorously reviewing the appropriateness of financial investment projects while directly meeting with all 93 departments to receive detailed reports on major projects and current issues for in-depth discussions.
Mayor Jo stated that he aims to implement proactive and active administration that breaks away from conventional practices to promote financial normalization. He added that despite challenging financial conditions, he will continue to work diligently on tasks for the development and prosperity of Jeonju.
Previously, the transition committee for the mayor's office announced that Jeonju's general debt would reach 684.1 billion won, with managed debt, including rental-type private investment projects (BTL), totaling 698 billion won. The remaining local bond balance of 622.5 billion won at the end of this year is approximately 5.1 times the average of similar cities, which is 122.6 billion won.
Mayor Jo emphasized, "I will ensure the completion of four core strategies: a city that respects citizens, an AI-specialized city, a city responsible for citizen care, and a top-five cultural industry city in Asia, all aimed at preserving and respecting the human dignity of all citizens under the slogan 'A City Where We Become Special, Jeonju.'" He added, "Jeonju will evolve into a platform city connecting 13 cities and counties in North Jeolla Province, embracing 5 million residents, and I will turn the framework of change established in the past month into concrete innovations and achievements."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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